Philippines watching 2024 US presidential race closely, seeks to strengthen ties, as China relations sour, envoy says

Jose Manuel Romualdez said any change in US leadership is an opportunity to strengthen the alliance between the two countries

Defence treaties have stepped up under Joe Biden and Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, with both leaders keen to counter China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea

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Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez says his country is closely watching how the US Presidential election will play out, as Manila seeks to strengthen ties with Washington. Photo: Pool via Reuters

Published: 6:10pm, 22 Feb 2024

The Philippines is closely watching the 2024 US presidential race but would view any change in leadership as an opportunity to renew the strengthening alliance between the two countries, Manila’s long-time envoy to Washington said on Thursday.

Security engagements between the defence treaty allies have stepped up considerably under US President Joe Biden and Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, with both leaders keen to counter what they see as mainland China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.

The Philippines, a former US colony, is Washington’s closest ally in Southeast Asia and its proximity to Taiwan makes it crucial to US efforts to counter a potential invasion by mainland China of the democratic island it views as its own territory.

Beijing regards the island as a breakaway province to be brought under mainland control – by force, if necessary. Many countries, including the US, do not officially recognise Taiwan as an independent state but oppose the use of force to change the status quo.

It gives us an opportunity to renew what we’ve already been saying, that our relationship with the US is an important one

Jose Manuel Romualdez, Philippine Ambassador to the US

“The only challenge that we face, especially for us in the embassy in Washington, DC, is what happens in November. It’s a concern for every country who would be the next president … everybody is preparing for that,” Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez told Reuters in a video interview.